Origin of name
The Topkapi Emerald Dagger is the renowned jewel-studded dagger of mid-18th
century origin, preserved and displayed for public viewing at the treasury
of the Topkapi Palace Museum, in Istanbul, Turkey. One side of the handle of
the dagger is set with three large Colombian emeralds of good color and
clarity whose size and prominence undoubtedly gave the dagger its popular
name. The exquisitely crafted jewel-studded dagger was actually one of
several other valuable gifts that was carried by an embassy of Sultan Mahmud
I (1730-54) to Iran, to be gifted to the mighty Iranian conqueror Nadir
Shah, but unfortunately was not delivered as Nadir Shah was assassinated,
when the embassy just crossed the borders of the Ottoman Empire into Iranian
territory. The gifts including the jewel-studded dagger were then returned
to the treasury at Istanbul, and eventually became one of the most
celebrated treasures in the treasury of the Topkapi Palace Museum. The popularity of the dagger, as well as the museum that holds it,
were given a major boost worldwide, when it was made the subject of a
popular Hollywood heist film in 1964, based on Eric Ambler's novel "The
Light of Day."
Characteristics of the emerald dagger
The three emeralds on the handle are large, deep green stones with good
clarity and transparency. The emeralds are mounted on the handle on one
side. The upper and lower emeralds have an identical pear-shaped cut, with
almost identical sizes and set with their pointed ends facing each other.
The middle emerald is a rectangular cushion-cut stone, whose width is
slightly less than the width of the pear-shaped stones. The outline of this
vertical arrangement of emeralds seem to coincide with the conventional
biconcave shape of a dagger, which gives a firm grip on its handle. The emeralds are interspersed with smaller
diamonds placed at the four corners of the rectangle in the middle and the
four corners of the trapezia situated above and below the rectangle. At the
end of the handle is an octagonal-shaped emerald, set as a cover, which when
opened revealed a small watch. Around this cover and the sides of the handle
are rows of smaller diamonds, the smallest on the dagger. The backside of
the handle is done in enamel and mother-of-pearls.
The entire length of the dagger is about 35 cm, inclusive of its handle. The
curved blade of the dagger alone may be just over two-thirds of its length,
and closely fits into curved sheath. The sheath is made out of gold with
enameled flower motifs and encrusted with diamonds. The enameled flower
motif at the center of the sheath represents a bouquet of flowers placed in
a vase. The diamonds encrusted on the sheath also form a design on either
side of the enameled flower motif, one towards the base and the other
towards the tip of the sheath. The diamond motif at the base of the sheath
consists of 31 diamonds, mostly rectangular in shape arranged in a
symmetrical pattern. The other diamond motif towards the tip of the sheath
is made up of 21 diamonds, also placed symmetrically. The tip of the curved
sheath is occupied by a large emerald.
Overall the emerald dagger and its enclosing sheath represent a masterpiece
of the highest artistic traditions, and the art of jewelry making, that
reached a highly refined status in the 17th century Ottoman Empire. A
diamond-studded gold chain attached to the handle of the dagger enhances the
ornamental value of this artistic creation.
History of the Emerald Dagger
Source of the emeralds
The source of the emeralds mounted on items of jewelry, daggers,
jewel-encrusted ornaments, the peacock throne etc. which were gifts of
ambassadors, enthronement gifts and purchases of the Sultans themselves, and
are presently exhibited in the treasury of the Topkapi Museum, are said to
be the ancient Muzo and Somondoco (Chivor) mines of Colombia. The Muzo mines
which were discovered by the Spanish in 1594 continued production until the
mid-18th century, when a disastrous fire stopped all mining activity, and
the mine had to be abandoned. Production in the Muzo mines resumed again
only after the Colombia had gained its independence from the Spanish in
1819. The Somondoco (Chivor) mines which started production in the mid-16th
century, remained in production only for about 125 years, and in the year
1675, was closed down permanently, by royal decree issued by King Charles
II, due to the cruel and and barbaric treatment meted out to the indigenous
Indian working population. The mines that were overgrown with jungle were
rediscovered only in the year 1896 and production resumed in 1911. Thus any
emeralds that reached Istanbul, the capital of Ottoman Turkey before 1675,
would have either originated in the Muzo or Somondoco emerald mines.
However, those emeralds that reached Istanbul after 1675, until
around the year 1750, must necessarily have originated in the Muzo mines of
Colombia.
How the emeralds from Colombia reached the
Ottoman Empire ?
The emeralds from Colombia were loaded into the Spanish galleons at the port
city of Cartagena, from where the Galleons sailed to Havana in Cuba directly
if they had already called previously at the port of Portobello in Panama,
or sailed to Portobello first before sailing to Havana, in Cuba. At
Portobello the Spanish Galleons were loaded with silver and gold that
originated in Peru, and was transported to Panama City by the Pacific fleet.
From Panama City on the Pacific coast the silver and gold were transported
to Portobello on the Atlantic coast by mule train. The treasure laden
Spanish galleons, containing gold and silver from Peru and Mexico, emeralds
and gold from Colombia, Pearls from Venezuela, and agricultural produce such
as tobacco, coffee etc. then sailed from the port of Havana, before the
onset of hurricanes in late July, and through the Straits of Florida
sailed across the Atlantic to Spain. From Spain after the Royalty had
collected a fifth of the production of emeralds as its share, the remaining
emeralds were re-exported to countries in Europe, the middle east and Asia,
where the green emeralds were in great demand, and snapped up by the royal
families of the Ottoman Empire, the Persian Empire and the richest empire in
the world at the time, the Moghul Empire of India. These emeralds reached
the middle east and Asia via the overland route or by ships sailing
around the Cape. Consignments due to the Ottoman Empire would have reached
Turkey through any one of the ports on its Mediterranean coast.
Likewise, consignments due to Iran (Persian Empire) would also have reached
the country, overland through Turkey. But Consignments due to the Moghul
Empire based in Northern India would most probably have gone around the
Cape, or via the western route from Spain, to Veracruz in Mexico, then
overland to Acapulco, and then by Ship to Philippines and from Philippines
to India.
Nadir Shah of Iran
Nadir Qoli Beg drives Afghans and Ottoman
Turks out of Iranian territories and restores Thamasp II to his throne
After the fall of the Safavid dynasty in Iran, following the invasion
of Mahmud of Kandahar and his 20,000 strong army, who captured the capital
city Esfahan and executed Shah Sultan Hussain (1694-1722), Thamasp II, the
son of Sultan Hussain, organized a campaign to regain his father's throne.
In 1726, Nadir Qoli Beg of the Turkish Afshar tribe based in Mashhad, a
brigand chief with 5,000 followers volunteered to help Thamasp II to regain
his throne. After intensive training and preparation Nadir moved against the
Afghans at Damghan in October 1729, defeated them and drove them out of
Iran, and installed Thamasp II on the Iranian throne. He then embarked on a
successful campaign that ousted the Ottoman Turks from the former Iranian
territories of Azerbaijan and Iraq. Later while Nadir was away in Khorasan
trying to quell an uprising, Thamasp had attacked Turkey again rashly and
was forced to conclude a peace treaty under shameful and disadvantageous
terms. Nadir returned to Esfahan immediately, deposed Thamasp for his
irresponsible behavior, and installed his infant son on the throne as Abbas
III, and assumed control as his regent, giving a semblance of legitimacy to
his intervention.
Nadir threatens to attack Russia and captures
Herat in Afghanistan
He then attacked the Turks again and drove them completely out of Iran for a
second time. He then planned to move against the Russians, but Peter II, the
Czar of Russia (1727-30), who heard about his plans, immediately surrendered
the Caspian provinces to Iran, in return for peace. Then in 1732 he captured
Herat in Afghanistan after laying siege to the city, and impressed by their
courage recruited a large number of Heratis to his army, who later formed
the backbone of the Afghan regiment in his army.
Nadir deposes young Abbas III and installs
himself as Shah of Iran
Nadir was the first Iranian Shah who realized the importance of Iran having
its own navy and in 1734 he started building up the navy, which just one
year after its creation, had attacked and captured Bahrain and Oman. Having
captured new territory and expanded the Iranian Empire, Nadir Shah felt
confident of himself, and deposed the young Abbas III and installed himself
as the absolute ruler of Iran.
He then diverted his attention towards Kandahar, in Afghanistan, a well-defended city,
and after 80,000 of his men had laid siege to the city for one year, he captured
it in 1738. Subsequently he also captured the cities of Ghazna and Kabul in
Afghanistan.
Nadir invades the Mughal Empire in 1739, and
carries away an enormous booty, including the original Peacock Thrones of
Shah Jahaan and an almost exact duplicate
Around this time the richest kingdom in the area was the Mughal Empire based
in Northern India. Nadir Shah was tempted to attack the Moghul Empire to the
east, not so much to acquire territory and expand his kingdom, but to
acquire the wealth and riches of this kingdom, renowned to be the richest
kingdom in the world around this time. In February, 1739, Nadir Shah and his
army invaded Northern India, and defeated the Moghul army in battle at
Karnal, and took the emperor Muhammad Shah, prisoner. His forces then
entered Delhi and Agra, the main seat of power of the Mughal emperors.
Nadir's forces ransacked the Moghul treasury in both cities and took
into their custody large quantities of treasures which included the "Shah Jahaan's Peacock Throne", several valuable diamonds such as the Koh-i-Noor,
the Darya-i-Noor, the Noor-ul-Ain etc. and also hundreds of chests full of
diamonds, emeralds, pearls, sapphires etc. Nadir was so impressed with the
"Peacock Throne" that he got Emperor Muhammad Shah to produce another
identical throne using the same materials and precious stones. Eventually,
when Nadir Shah's forces withdrew from Northern India in May 1739, he
carried away a booty that was estimated at 700 million rupees, according to
standards prevalent at that time. The successful expedition increased the
financial situation in Iran, so much so, that Nadir was able to exempt all
Iranian people from taxes for the next three years.
Nadir sends gifts of valuable treasures to
rulers of neighboring kingdoms including Sultan Mahmud I of the Ottoman
Empire
He then attacked and captured the cities of Bukhara and Khiva in Uzbekistan,
and captured Armenia from the Turks after a battle and great victory over
the Turks, near Yerevan. The vast empire created by Nadir Shah was now
almost equal in extent to the ancient Iranian empires. He now settled down
to rule his vast empire, and sent gifts of treasures to rulers of
neighboring kingdoms such as the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire. In
May 1747, after the signing of the peace treaty between Iran and Turkey in
September 1746, he
sent two of his trusted emissaries Mustafa Han and Mohammed Mahdi Han with
extremely valuable gifts to the Ottoman Emperor Sultan Mahmud I (1730-1754).
Among the gifts sent to the Sultan was the duplicate jewel-studded
"Peacock Throne" which Mogul Emperor Muhammad Shah made for him at his
request. He also sent gifts to Czarina Elizabeth (1741-62) of Russia, and Abul Faiz
Khan, the ruler of Bukhara in Uzbekistan.
Nadir Shah a brilliant soldier but a poor
statesman and administrator. Nadir Shah's assassination in 1747.
In the history of Iran, Nadir Shah was one of the most successful rulers who
restored the Iranian empire to its former glory. As a soldier he was
brilliant and successful, but failed as a statesman and administrator.
Towards the end of his rule the country became completely exhausted due to
the never ending military campaigns, that killed tens of thousands of his
people. He was a harsh and ruthless ruler, who imposed cruel punishment on
his people for various offences, which included torture and executions. This
resulted in never ending revolts against him in different parts of the
country, that finally led to his assassination in his sleep in 1747, by his
own Afshar tribesmen - in spite of the fact that he was guarded by a
5,000-strong Afghan bodyguard - during a campaign to suppress an uprising in
Khorasan. His sudden assassination led to chaos and civil war in the
country, the commanders of the different tribal units in his army trying to
capture and carve out territories to be brought under their control. Nadir
Shah's vast empire finally crumbled into several independent and self
governing territories.
Sultan Mahmud I
Birth and education
Sultan Mahmud I (1730-54) who was son of Sultan Mustapha II (1695-1703) and
the elder brother of Sultan Osman III (1754-57), was born in Istanbul
on August 2, 1696. He was the nephew of Sultan Ahmed III (1703-1730) whom he
succeeded in 1730. He had his education in the palace under the tutelage of
specially selected teachers. Young Mahmud took a keen interest in history,
literature, and poetry and also studied music. He wrote poetry in Arabic,
and even as Sultan continued writing poetry, while his trusted viziers were
in charge of governing the empire.
Janissaries instal Mahmud I as Sultan after
ousting his predecessor
Sultan Mahmud was put on the throne of the Ottoman Empire in 1730, by the
kingmakers of the time, the powerful Janissaries, who engineered a palace coup
against his predecessor Sultan Ahmed III. The Janissaries were an elite
corps in the service of the Ottoman Empire, that consisted of war captives
and Christian youths from the Balkan Provinces, who were converted to Islam,
on being drafted into the Ottoman service, and trained under the strictest
discipline, including celibacy. The corps was first organized under Sultan Murad I. The Janissaries were highly respected for their military prowess in
the 15th and 16th centuries, and eventually became a powerful political
force within the Ottoman State, to the extent that they were able to
make or unmake sultans as they pleased. It was this power of the Janissaries
that led to the overthrow of Sultan Ahmed III in 1730, and the installation
of his nephew, Mahmud I, as the new sultan.
Causes of Patrona Halil's uprising
The actual cause of this palace coup engineered by the Janissaries, was said
to be jealousy caused by a new breed of aristocrats created by Sultan Ahmed
III, by favoring the rise of the Greek Phanariots to high offices. The
Phanariots were privileged Greek families, that lived in the Greek quarter
of Constantinople, known as the Phanar. They held influential positions in
the government, until the Greek war of independence that began in 1821.
Another reason given for the deposing of Sultan Ahmed III, was the defeat of
Turkey by the Persian forces led by the mighty conqueror Nadir Shah. The
uprising of the Janissaries was led by Patrona Halil (Khalil), who rode with
the new Sultan to the mosque of Ayub, where the traditional ceremony of
girding Mahmud I with the sword of Othman was performed. Patrona Halil
served in the ranks of the Janissaries as a common soldier. He forced
Sultan Mahmud I, to retire many officers in the Janissary Corps, and appoint
nominees recommended by him as successors.
The downfall of Patrona Halil
Patrona Halil and his supporters then tried to force the Sultan to declare war
against the Russians. He also wanted the Sultan to appoint him as the
commander of the Yeniceri Corps. The demands of the rebel chiefs on the Sultan became
unbearable, and some officers loyal to the Sultan, formed an alliance to
eliminate Patrona Hill and his supporters. The Khan of the Crimea, the Grand Vizier, the Mufti
and the Aga (commander) of the Janissaries drew up a plan that enlisted the support of
other sections of the army. Patrona Hill and his 7,000 followers were
massacred in front of the Sultan, after they had a meeting with him in
his palace. Thus came to an end the rebellion of the Janissaries that put
Sultan Mahmud I on the throne.
Sultan Mahmud I, a benevolent ruler
Sultan Mahmud I, was a benevolent ruler who worked for the welfare of his
people. The great qualities exhibited by him as a ruler, such as the
strength of his character and determination, tempered by mercy and tolerance
and coupled with patience and forbearance, were qualities acquired by his
sound education. Sultan Mahmud was also responsible for reforming the
Ottoman army, with the help of Humbaraci Ahmed Pasha, a French nobleman
converted to Islam. While reorganizing the artillery and bombardier corps,
Ahmed Pasha also initiated the army engineering corps, and embarked on a
program of education and training for the officers of the Ottoman army.
Successful military campaigns conducted
against Russia and Iran and signing of peace treaties with both countries
After the reorganization of the army, successful military campaigns were
conducted by Ahmed Pasha against both the Iranians and the Russians. The
campaign against Iran led to the re-capture of some territories lost prior
to 1731, such as Kermensah and Tabriz, and resulted in the signing of the
Ahmed Shah treaty in 1732, according to which the Caucasus was left to
the Ottoman Empire, and Western Iran and Azerbaijan to Iran. In spite of the
Ahmed Shah treaty fighting between the two nations continued until 1746, the
Ottomans capturing Baghdad in 1733, and Nadir Shah attacking the Iraqi
territory and besieging Mosul and Kars in 1743. A new treaty signed in
September 1746 brought peace between the two countries.
Nadir Shah of Iran and Sultan Mahmud I of
Turkey send embassies to each others countries and exchange valuable gifts
After signing of the peace treaty of September 1746, Nadir Shah of Iran,
sent two of his trusted men, Mustapha Han and Mohammed Mehdi Han as goodwill
ambassadors, carrying extremely valuable gifts to the Ottoman Padishah,
Sultan Mahmud I, which included the second Peacock Throne brought from
Delhi in India. Sultan Mahmud I, who was intimated about the arrival of the
embassy, reciprocated the kind gesture of Nadir Shah, and sent an embassy of
his own on May 11, 1747, led by Kesriyeli Ahmed Pasha and carrying valuable
gifts in return, which included the outstanding dagger, whose handle and
sheath were encrusted with emeralds and diamonds, and is the subject of this
web article. The ambassadors of the two sides met somewhere near Baghdad,
and displayed their treasures to one another. Then after a few days the
Iranian embassy left for Baghdad and the Turkish embassy for Hamadan.
Nadir Shah is assassinated before the
exchange of gifts could take place and the Turkish embassy returns to
Istanbul
At the crucial moment as both embassies were on their way to each others
capitals, Nadir Shah was assassinated by his own troops at Fathebad in
Khorasan on May 19, 1747. The shocking news of the assassination reached the
Turkish embassy as they crossed the Turkish-Iranian border into Iran. With
the main objective of their mission, viz. handing over Sultan Mahmud's gifts
to Nadir Shah, being thwarted, the head of the embassy, Ahmed Pasha, decided
to return immediately to Istanbul, to report the developments to Sultan
Mahmud and prevent the gifts from being plundered. Their return journey was
not without any incidents, but the embassy managed to enter Ottoman lands
with all the gifts intact. Having reached Istanbul, Ahmed Pasha, returned
the gifts including the emerald dagger to the treasury and reported about
the unexpected developments to Sultan Mahmud I. The Iranian embassy
meanwhile reached Baghdad, and on hearing of developments back home
requested political asylum which was readily granted. The embassy then
reached Istanbul, and handed over Nadir Shah's gifts including the
"Peacock Throne" to Sultan Mahmud I, which were then transferred to the
treasury. Thus the "Topkapi Emerald Dagger" and Nadir Shah's "Peacock
Throne" the most prominent and renowned exhibits in the Topkapi Palace
Museum today, have a fascinating history dating back to the mid-18th
centuries, and were the products of a historic diplomatic exchange between
Turkey and its neighbor Iran, two great nations of the region with a history
dating back to several millennia.
Other daggers exhibited at the Topkapi Palace
Museum
Besides the "Emerald Dagger" several other daggers are also on display at
the treasury of the Topkapi Palace Museum. One such dagger is the emerald
dagger that belonged to Sultan Mehmet IV. The dagger is a masterpiece of the
17th century Turkish craftsmanship. The dagger which is 31 cm in length has
an emerald encrusted handle and a jewel encrusted golden sheath. The dagger
was presented to Sultan Mehmet IV, on the occasion of the dedication of the
Yeni Mosque.
Another dagger with a crystal handle was said to be the property of Sultan
Selim the Grim. Yet another dagger whose owner is unknown, has a handle
consisting of a single emerald and a gold sheath encrusted with diamonds.
Each one of these daggers has a unique artistic and historic value,
representing the great traditions of jewelry designing and manufacture for
which the artisans of the Ottoman Empire were renowned for. However the most
well known of all daggers in the Topkapi Palace Museum, is undoubtedly the "Topkapi
Emerald Dagger" which has earned an international reputation, particularly
after it became the subject of a popular Hollywood heist film in 1964. The
film was responsible for giving a major boost not only to the popularity of
the "Emerald Dagger" but also the Topkapi Palace Museum, where the dagger is
exhibited. Hundreds of thousands of foreign tourists who come to Istanbul
annually, and visit the Topkapi Palace Museum, without fail line up before
the glass case enclosing the "Emerald Dagger" that was featured in the film,
and replicas of the "Emerald Dagger" are sold everywhere in Istanbul for the
benefit of tourists who would like purchase them as mementos of their visit.
The Hollywood heist film "Topkapi"
"Topkapi" a crime comedy film, whose theme was the theft of an artifact,
from the renowned Topkapi Museum in Istanbul, was produced and directed by
the American film director Jules Dassin, based on the novel " The Light of
Day" by Eric Ambler, and was released for screening in the year 1964.
The film that became popular the world over, for its plot and how it was
executed, with full of suspense at the crucial moment of the theft, had a
cast that included Melina Mercouri (Elisabeth Lipp), Peter Ustinov (Arthur
Simpson), Maximilian Schell (Walter Harper), Robert Morley (Cedric Page),
Akim Tamiroff (Geven), Gilles Segal (Giulio) and Jess Hahn (Fischer).
Jewel thieves Elizabeth Lipp and her lover Walter Harper, draw up a plan to
steal Sultan Mahmud I's emerald dagger from its glass display case in
Istanbul's Topkapi Palace Museum. The duo recruit three others to carry out
their ambitious plan; Fischer, a strongman; Giulio a mute athlete; and
Cedric Page, an eccentric British inventor. The gang reaches Athens, where
at the airport they hire conman Arthur Simpson to drive his American
limousine alone across the border, and meet them in Istanbul. As Simpson
attempts to drive across the border, he is arrested by the Turkish Police,
who found weapons hidden in the trunk. Simpson is interrogated by one of the
policeman Major Tufan, and allowed to proceed on condition that he spies on
the gang. The Turkish police suspected the "tourists" to be revolutionaries
planning a coup d'etat.
Simpson meets the "tourists" in Istanbul as agreed. The gang that hired a
villa in Istanbul, plan the details of the robbery, according to which,
Fischer, the strongman is to lower Giulio, the athlete, on a rope from a
window near the museum's ceiling. Guilio is to attach rubber suckers to the
glass chamber which encloses the "Emerald Dagger" and the chamber was to be
hauled up by another rope, while Guilio dangling in the air on the first rope
carefully retrieves the dagger from its display stand, and replaces it with
a duplicate emerald dagger. The glass chamber was to be lowered after this
and then
placed in its original position. Guilio was to be hauled up by Fischer,
after successfully executing the assignment. The suspense in this whole
drama arises from the fact that the floor of the museum was sensitively wired,
to the extent that even the slightest weight placed on it would have
triggered off an alarm in the security office. Hence the need for the
dangling operation from above, and the spine-chilling moment of suspense
when Guilio nearly dropped one of the tools he had been using in the
operation.
Geven, the drunken cook at the villa, believed that the men were Russian
spies, and passes the information to Simpson, who in turn informs Major Tufan. Then
by a sudden and unexpected turn of events, Fischer's hands are injured
accidentally by being smashed by a door, and Simpson is recruited to take
Fischer's place, in spite of the fact he revealed his link to the police.
The gang successfully elude Major Tufan who was on their trail, and execute
the robbery as planned. The dagger is then given to a gypsy, who smuggles it
out of Turkey.
Elated and proud about the success of their operation, the gang members go
to meet Major Tufan, and complain about weapons being discovered in their
car. While they were in the Major's office, a bird flies through the opened
window in the museum used for the operation, and lands on the floor,
triggering the alarm. Following this incident the entire gang was arrested
on suspicion, apparently for an unknown crime, and later released. Elizabeth
Lipp one of the masterminds of the operation, then outlines her plans for
their next job - the theft of the Romanov jewels from the Kremlin Diamond
Fund.
The film was shot at Boulogne-Billancourt Studios in Paris, and also on
location in Istanbul, Turkey. Peter Ustinov won the 1964 Academy Award for
the Best Supporting Actor for the role he played in the film as Arthur
Simpson.
The film gives a major international boost to
the Topkapi Emerald Dagger and the Topkapi Museum
After the release of the film in 1964, it became an instant box office hit
attracting large crowds all over the world. The Emerald Dagger and the
Topkapi Museum where the dagger is displayed became internationally
renowned, and a tremendous boost was given to the tourist industry of
Turkey. Foreign tourists arriving in Turkey were always eager to see the
Emerald Dagger displayed in the treasury of the Topkapi Palace Museum.
Tourism promoters and travel agencies around the world printed large posters
depicting the "Topkapi Emerald Dagger" that was exhibited in their offices
all over the world. Picture postcards and replicas of the dagger were also
produced and became much sought after tourist souvenirs in Istanbul.
The Topkapi Palace Museum
Topkapi the
largest and oldest palace in the world to survive to this day
Topkapi Sarayi which in the Turkish Language means "The Gate of Cannons
Palace" derives its name from the huge cannons displayed outside the gates
of the palace which were once used by the forces of Sultan Mehmet II in
conquering the city of Constantinople, which subsequently came to be known
as Istanbul. The palace is perhaps the largest and oldest palace in the
world to survive to this day, thanks to the restoration and maintenance
activities undertaken by the Government of Turkey, after the country became
a republic in 1924. The palace which stands on the site of the ancient
Acropolis, the first settlement of the Byzantine period, overlooks the
Bosphorus, the Sea of Marmara and the Golden Horn, providing a panoramic
view of the area. The entire palace is an enormous complex occupying an area
of 700,000 sq. meters and surrounded by more than 5 km of walls.
Topkapi Palace
built by Sultan Mehmet II between 1465 and 1479
The Topkapi Palace was the palace and the main administrative center of the
Ottoman empire for 400 years from the 15th to the 19th centuries. After the
conquest of Constantinople in 1453, Sultan Mehmet II shifted the capital of
his empire from Edirne to this city, which came to be known as Istanbul.
Sultan Mehmet II at first built his palace at a site which is now occupied
by the University of Istanbul. Subsequently in the year 1465, he ordered the
construction of a new palace at point Seraglio, overlooking the Golden Horn,
the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara, the site of the ancient Acropolis of
the Byzantine empire. The palace was completed in 1479, and occupied by
Sultan Mehmet II in the same year, and was referred to as the "New Palace,"
the palace which he earlier occupied being known as the "Old Palace."
The Topkapi Palace served a dual function
both as the residence of the Sultan and the main administrative center of
the Ottoman empire
The "New Palace" which was one of the most magnificent palaces ever built,
eventually came to be known as the "Topkapi Palace" after the installation
of the huge cannons outside the main gate of the palace. Unlike other
palaces in the western monarchies, the "Topkapi Palace" served not only as
the residence of the Ottoman Sultans and their families, but also as the
center of Government of the Ottoman empire where the cabinet of ministers
met. Besides the palace also housed the various ministries of the
government, the imperial treasury, the imperial mint, the imperial archives,
and advanced educational institutions of the government that trained civil
servants, managers and accounting officers for
different government institutions. Civil servants who graduated from this
school were posted to the far flung corners of the vast empire where they
served the Sultan and his empire faithfully and helped in the administration
of the vast domain. Most of the viziers and grand viziers were graduates of
this administrative school.
In other words the Topkapi Palace was the
vital nerve center of the highly centralized administrative structure of the
vast Ottoman empire, one of the most powerful and sophisticated empires in
the world, which at its height ruled the entire Balkans, Hungary, Crimea,
the Arab East, North Africa, and at times parts of Italy, Poland and
Ukraine. The Turks in their long and ancient history founded 16 empires, but
the Ottoman empire was the largest, most successful and long lasting of all,
that existed for 622 years, exercising its benevolent governance on peoples
of European, Asian and African lands in the neighborhood of the
Mediterranean and Black seas. The empire was governed by 36 sultans during
its existence, and beginning from the early 16th century the sultans also
became the spiritual heads of the Islamic world as caliphs. During this period the Topkapi Palace and its neighborhood, and the
City of Istanbul became a cosmopolitan environment, where people of
different ethnic groups, speaking different languages and professing
different religions, from the far corners of the empire, lived and worked
together in peace, creating a culturally dynamic society, that was
responsible for the creation of the architectural and artistic marvels of
this period, which attained a very high state of refinement.
The Topkapi Palace, a lasting monument to the
typical Turkish palace architecture
The Topkapi Palace is a typical example of Turkish palace architecture. The
most distinctive feature of this architecture is a series of tree-shaded
open courtyards, each meant for a particular purpose, and interconnected by
large and impressive gates. The periphery of the courtyards are occupied by
buildings that perform various functions of government. Ever since the
palace was built in the 15th century, it has undergone constant development
and expansion, as each sultan, depending on his tastes, made his own
alterations and additions. The "Harem" consisting of about 400 rooms was
constructed only a century later during the reign of Sultan Murad III.
Keeping pace with the expansion of the palace, the number of residents in
the palace also dramatically increased. Initially the number of residents in
the palace were about 700 to 800, which rose to about 5,000 towards the
latter period of the empire, rising to nearly 10,000 during periods of
festival. The Janissaries, the elite corps in the service of the Ottoman
empire, constituted the largest part of the palace population, and were
based within the first courtyard of the palace. Thus the Topkapi Palace with
a total area of 700,000 meter square and surrounded by a wall of 5 km became
the largest palace in the world.
Abandoning of the Topkapi Palace in 1853.
Restoration of the Topkapi Palace and its conversion to a national museum
In 1853, after the construction of the new Dolmabache (filled up garden)
palace by Sultan Abdul Megid, Topkapi's importance as the official royal
residence diminished, and the palace was almost abandoned. Deterioration set
in and parts of the enormous palace began to crumble. Finally after the
demise of the Ottoman empire following its defeat in World War I, Turkey was
proclaimed a republic on October 29, 1923, and Mustafa Kemal Ataturk became
its founder president. President Ataturk realizing the importance of
preserving the national heritage of Turkey, ordered the preservation and
restoration of all sites of historical and archaeological importance. Under
this plan the restoration of the Topkapi palace was given pride of place,
and Ataturk ordered that the ancient palace be converted into a national
museum. After almost five decades of restoration work, the Topkapi palace
has now been restored to its former pristine glory, and houses one of the
world's largest collection of artworks and artifacts, which include ceramic,
glass and silver ware, imperial costumes, arms and armor, miniatures and
manuscripts, clocks, gold and silver jewelry set with precious stones, jewel
encrusted objects like daggers, jewel encrusted thrones, rough emeralds and
other gemstones etc.
The First Courtyard of the Topkapi palace
The Imperial Gate or Bab-i-Humayun
The main entrance to the first and outermost courtyard, known as the
"Courtyard of the Regiments" is through the Imperial gate known as
Bab-i-Humayun. The portal of Bab-i-Humayun is flanked by two towers built
during the time of Sultan Mehmet II. In the past the severed heads of
traitors were displayed at the gate. The portal was guarded by a special
regiment of palace guards. However, the general public could have access
through this gate as the first courtyard was open to the public.
Fountain of Sultan Ahmed III
The fountain just outside the gate is the fountain of Sultan Ahmed III,
which is the most striking example of 18th century "Meydan" fountains.
The service buildings, the tiled pavilion,
the archaeological museum, Haghia Eirene church
Around the periphery of the first courtyard were the service buildings,
which included a hospital, bakery, mint, accommodation for palace servants
and guards and the firewood depots. There was an area in the first courtyard
that was reserved for cultivating vegetables, which were supplied to the
palace. A building of significance in this courtyard was the Cinili Kosk
(the tiled lodge or pavilion), the first building constructed in the Topkapi
palace complex, and which is now a ceramics museum, exhibiting Turkish
ceramics from the 12th century to the present day. Next to the tiled
pavilion is the Archaeological museum which houses one of the most
outstanding collections in the world, and consists of archeological exhibits
dating from ancient Byzantine period. Another building of historical
importance is the Haghia Eirene, a 6th century Byzantine church which
was converted into a military museum, and later restored and used as a
concert hall because of its excellent acoustics. An ancient Gothic Column
from the Byzantine period erected in the 3rd century A.D. is also preserved
in the first courtyard.
Layout of the Topkapi Palace Museum
A The first court
B The second court
C The third court
D The fourth court
1 The middle gate (gate
of greeting)
2 The kitchens (Chinese
and Japanese Porcelain - Silverware)
3 The hall of Divan
4 The tower of justice
5 The armoury
6 The gate of Felicity
7 The Throne room
8 The costumes
9 The treasury
10 The Miniature
painting collection
11 The clocks
12 The Pavilion of the
Blessed Mantle
13 Mecidiye Pavillon
14 Iftariye (breakfast)
and Baghdad Pavilion
15 The Harem
The Second Courtyard
Babus-selam or
the "Gate of Salutation"
From the first courtyard, entry to the second courtyard is gained through
the gate known as the Orta Kapi or Babusselam which may mean "the gate of
greeting" or the "peace gate." This gate is also flanked by two towers on
either side, and today this gate is the formal entrance to the Topkapi
museum.
Divan Odasi or the Chamber of State buildings
The administrative center of the state and the government, the "Divan Odasi"
or the "Chamber of State" are situated in this courtyard, on the left as one
enters through the Babusselam. The "Council of State" met four days in a
week under the chairmanship of the Grand Vizier. Other participants at the
meetings were the Viziers and their secretaries. The Sultan normally did not
participate in the meetings, but had the privilege of listening to the
deliberations if he so wished from a high window masked by curtains, in one
of the walls separating the council chamber from the Harem. The hall of the
"Council of State" was also the venue for the occasional feasts given in
honor of visiting foreign missions. The "Tower of Justice" the only tower in
the palace grounds, is also situated among the "Council of State" buildings.
The tower was so named because justice in the name of the state was
dispensed from the buildings surrounding this tower.
The state treasury buildings, a display house
for old weapons
The large eight-domed building adjoining the "Council of State" buildings,
with broad eaves was the state treasury. Today this building houses an
exhibition of a rich collection of old weapons. Armor and weapons on display
include those used by the Sultans, the palace guard, the national army, and
weapons captured from foreign armies in battle.
Venue for state ceremonies and receptions
The second courtyard was the venue for state ceremonies as well as for
receptions for foreign emissaries. The large extent of the second courtyard
which had an area of 22 acres, sometimes enabled a crowd of up to 10,000
people to attend these ceremonies. Whenever the Sultan participated in
such events the imperial throne was placed at the opposite end of the
courtyard, just in front of the "Gate of Felicity". Perfect silence
prevailed during such ceremonies, and as a show of respect the crowds
assembled stood up with their hands clasped in front, before the ceremonies
started. On normal working days of the week, citizens who had official
business to attend to, were allowed access into this courtyard, and so were
the representatives of the Janissary Corps on paydays.
The palace kitchens, display area for the
world's largest collection of porcelain ware
On the right periphery of the second courtyard is the row of palace
kitchens, with twenty chimneys. It is said that during the period of rule of
the Sultans, the palace kitchens employed over a thousand cooks and
assistants who cooked and served meals to the different sections of the
palace. Today the restored palace kitchens have been converted to an
exhibition hall that displays a representative collection of about 2,500
pieces out of a total of 12,000 pieces, the largest collection of porcelain
ware , glassware and silverware in the world. The porcelain ware are
classified according to their country of origin. One section displays
porcelain ware and glassware produced in Istanbul. A second section displays
porcelain ware and silver ware originating from Europe. Another section is
allocated to the Chinese porcelain collection, which included the unique
Chinese celadons, which were said to change color when the food was
poisoned. Sections are also allocated to the Japanese porcelain collection
and the blue and white, mono and polychrome porcelain objects. The last
section of this display was allocated to everyday kitchen utensils, coffee
sets and gold-plated copper ware.
The Harem
Harem which in Arabic means forbidden, refers to a restricted area in the
palace which is the living quarters of the sultan and his family, which
includes his mother, brothers, sons and daughters, his female consorts and
their woman servants. Other residents of this restricted area were an elite
corps of male guardians who were castrated black slaves from Ethiopia,
commonly referred to as eunuchs who acted as servants and administrators of
the harem. The sultan's mother was the sole ruler of the harem, and there
was no title in the empire as the "Empress" normally found in western
monarchies.
Photo from Istanbul Government Website
The harem consists of long narrow hallways, with about 400 rooms scattered
around small courtyards. The part of the harem which was allocated to the
mother of the sultan consisted of 40 rooms. Besides the rooms, spacious
domed halls, Turkish baths, fireplaces and hearths, pools and fountains and
other special halls and rooms are also found in the harem. Over the years
the harem had undergone alterations and extensions. A large hall that dates
to the reign of Murad III, has a pool filled by fountains and decorated with
beautiful 16th century tiles. This hall leads to a small library and the
"fruit room" decorated with paintings of fruits and flowers. Two rooms
constructed in the 16th century with rich wall decorations and matching
stained glass windows, were allocated to the Crown Prince, who according to
the laws of succession of the Ottoman empire was the eldest member of the
dynasty, instead of the eldest son of the reigning sultan. This gave a sense
of security to the children of the sultan, who could live without any fear
of assassination. The total floor area covered by the harem is as big as the
area covered by the 3rd or 4th courtyards. The harem which is on the left
side of the palace, is situated partly to the left side of the rear of the
second courtyard and partly to the left of the front side of the third
courtyard. The present access to the harem is through the second courtyard
via the Divan Odasi or the Chamber of State buildings.
The concubines serving the sultan and his family were selected from the most
attractive and healthy young maidens belonging to different races or ethnic
groups, some of whom were sent to the sultan as gifts. The girls usually
entered the harem at an early age and were brought up by elderly ladies of
the harem in a strict disciplinary environment. The girls were taught
everything about the rules, customs and traditions of the palace and
the rules of protocol in the palace. When the girls had matured into
beautiful maidens and were conversant with all the rules of the palace, they
were allowed to serve the sultan. Some of these maidens who were able to
attract the attention of the sultan and earn his favors eventually end up as
his wives. Being human, the wives of the sultan had their jealousies, hatred
and rivalries, and vying with each other and being part of intrigues
to get closer to the sultan were part of the daily life in the palace. But
being matured, intelligent and benevolent individuals the Sultans always
adopted an impartial attitude towards their wives, and peace and tranquility
usually prevailed in the harem.
The Third Courtyard
Entry to the third courtyard from the second is through the "Babus-sade" or
the "Gate of Felicity," which was guarded by the white eunuchs. The third
courtyard was the private domain of the sultan and therefore entry was
restricted to the sultan, who normally passed through "Babus-sade" on
horseback, and only a favored handful of statesmen and trusted intimates.
Important buildings in this courtyard were the throne room, the sultan's
treasury, the sacred relics chambers, the imperial university and the
library of Ahmet III.
The Throne Room or the Audience Chamber
The throne room or the audience chamber which was situated very close to the
"Babus-sade" was the place where the sultan met high government
officials and received foreign ambassadors. The Grand Vizier and members of
the Divan came to the audience chamber to present their resolutions to the
sultan for ratification. It is said that for security reasons the lower
grades of workers in the audience chamber were recruited from deaf and mute
persons.
The Library of Ahmet III
Just after the audience chamber almost at the center of the courtyard is the
library built by Ahmed III in the early 18th century. This building is a
typical example of a structure that blends harmoniously the baroque and
Turkish architectural styles.
The Imperial University
The buildings on the right side of the audience room were the classrooms and
lecture halls of the Imperial University, which was a training school for
producing civil servants, who after graduation were posted to positions of
responsibility in the government, such as administrators, accounting
officers etc. in different regions of the vast empire. The Viziers and Grand
Viziers of the government were graduates of this school. The managers of the
Imperial school were military officers, who also served the sultan at the
same time in various other capacities.
The Imperial Costume Collection
Today the same buildings that served as the Imperial school, houses the
Imperial costume section of the Topkapi Palace. These imperial costumes were
made of fabric that were woven in the palace looms, and embroidered with
silk. gold and silver thread. There are a total of 2,500 of these handmade
costumes, that had been preserved carefully in special chests since the 15th
century. Truly, the unique collection of the sultan's wardrobes, is
undoubtedly an outstanding collection of its kind in the whole world. Apart
from garments other items displayed in this section include silk carpets and
prayer rugs used by the sultans.
The Treasury
The former treasury of the sultan has been converted today to the treasury
of the Topkapi Museum, which houses in its four rooms the most valuable
collection in the museum, which include jewels and jewelry,
jewel-encrusted thrones, jewel-encrusted daggers and other objects, enameled
objects etc. This collection is undoubtedly one of the richest collections
of its kind in the world. Besides masterpieces of the Turkish art of jewelry
manufacture belonging to different periods, exquisite jewelry creations from
Europe, India and the far east are also found in this collection. In each
one of the four rooms or salons where the collection is exhibited an
Imperial throne of a different era is also included.
Room I
Important exhibits in the first room of the treasury include the following:-
1) The complete battle armor of Sultan Mustafa III, made up of iron mail
that afforded full protection to the wearer from head to toe, and also
included his sword and shield and foot gear for his mount. The battle dress
was encrusted with gold and precious stones.
2) Qura'n covers decorated with pearls, including a black velvet cover
decorated with pearls and a diamond in the center, with three pearl tassels.
3) The ebony throne of Sultan Murad IV, inlaid with ivory and
mother-of-pearls and covered with 17th century Turkish hand-woven fabric.
4) The diamond-studded walking stick of Abdulhamid II, that was gifted by
Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany.
5) An ornate Indian music box.
6) Turkish and Iranian pots, vases, jugs, sherbet set in gold,
7) Gold candelabras, gold water pipes,
8) Solid jade vases and ports.
Room II - Emerald Room
1) Emerald praying beads and arrow quivers encrusted with gold and with
flower motifs of diamonds and emeralds.
2) An emerald pendant belonging to Sultan Andulhamid I, with three large
emeralds set in a triangle, surrounded by leaf patterns on a gold framework,
and 48 strings of pearls forming the tassel.
3) A six-sided pendant set with emeralds, pearls, diamonds and sapphires, on
a gold framework, Commissioned by Sultan Ahmet I in 1617.
4) An aigrette with a heavy gold pin encrusted with two 5 cm
long emeralds and a garnet, with diamond-encrusted gold leaves and loops of
pearls attached.
5) Emerald dagger gifted to Sultan Mehmet IV at the time of dedication of
Yeni Mosque. The dagger is 31 cm long with an emerald encrusted handle and a
jewel-encrusted gold sheath.
6) Uncut emeralds some weighing up to several kilograms each.
7) The 35 cm long "Topkapi Emerald Dagger" the subject of this web article,
a gift to the Persian emperor Nadir Shah by Sultan Mahmud I, but never
delivered, as Nadir Shah was assassinated before the embassy carrying the
gift reached him.
9) The throne of Sultan Ahmet I, a rare and unique masterpiece of 17th
century woodwork executed in walnut and inlaid with mother-of-pearl,
tortoise shell and other precious stones.
10) Hand carved works of jade.
11) The golden cradle in which newborn prospective sultans were presented to
their fathers, the reigning Sultans. The cradle decorated with flower motifs
and encrusted with diamonds and emeralds has dimensions of 103 X 54 cm. A
jewel-encrusted pendant overhangs the cradle.
Room III
1) More Qur'an covers decorated with precious stones.
2) A jewel-encrusted gold dessert-set belonging to sultan Abdul Hamid.
3) A pendant carrying the seal of Sultan Mahmud II, encrusted with diamonds,
on a blue and pink enamel background.
4) A collection of very famous cut diamonds.
5) Brooches, rings and other jewelry items.
6) A gold tray and gold incense burner.
7) The 86-carat "Spoonmaker's Diamond" one of the most famous diamonds in
the world, set in silver and surrounded by 49 smaller diamonds, which is the
most prominent exhibit in this room.
Please click here for separate
web article on "Spoonmaker's Diamond."
8) The twin solid gold candelabras, each weighing 48 kg and decorated with
6,666 diamonds. The set was commissioned by Sultan Abdulhamid.
9) Several medals and decorations, which were gifts from heads of state from
around the world.
10) The magnificent Holiday Throne of the Ottoman Sultans, made of gold and
encrusted with jewels, used during coronations and religious holidays. The
throne that weighs 350 kg was a gift to Sultan Murat III, by the Egyptian
Governor Ibrahim Pasha in 1585.
Room IV
1) The most prominent exhibit in this room is the throne of Sultan Mahmud I,
a gift by the Persian King Nadir Shah in 1747, just before he was
assassinated. The throne with a green and red background encrusted
with emeralds and pearls, is a masterpiece of Indian craftsmanship. The
throne is also known as the "Peacock Throne" as it has some resemblance to
the original "Peacock Throne" of Shah Jahaan, said to be the most
splendorous throne ever made in the history of mankind, that was carried
away as war booty by Nadir Shah when he invaded Mughul India in 1739. Before
leaving India, Nadir Shah also got his unwilling host, the Mughal Emperor
Muhammad Shah, to commission a replica of the "Peacock Throne" using his
court artisans, which too he carried away to Iran. It is believed that the
"Peacock Throne" in the Topkapi museum treasury, is actually the replica of
the original "Peacock Throne" made by Emperor Muhammad Shah at Nadir Shah's
insistence. The original "Peacock Throne" of Shah Jahaan was stolen and
dismantled after the death of Nadir Shah, during the period of anarchy that
prevailed in the immediate aftermath of his assassination.
2) Swords, rifles, spoons and prayer beads, all extravagantly decorated.
3) The chest in which the mantle of the Holy Prophet Muhammad was once kept.
Portrait and Miniature Exhibit Hall
This hall is located in the building with a colonnade that stands between
the Treasury and the Sacreds Relics Chamber, on the opposite end of the
courtyard from the Audience Chamber or Throne Room. The museum offices are
also located in this building, and a large exhibition hall where temporary
exhibitions are organized from time to time.
This section has a rich collection of miniatures, manuscripts, books and
writing tools, and some of the rare items have been put out on display. Oil
portraits of the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire adorn the walls of the
galleries of the hall. The ground floor of the hall displays artwork from
the Islamic World from the 13th to 20th centuries.
The Clock Collection
On the same side as the Portrait and Miniature Exhibit Hall, and just
adjacent to it, is the hall exhibiting the clock collection. The collection
of clocks in this section is perhaps the richest collection of clocks in the
world originating from the 16th to 19th centuries. They consist of wall and
table clocks and watches of a variety of makes, manufactured in different
countries and presented as gifts to the palace. There are also clocks made
by Turkish masters. Some of the watches carry the portrait of Abdulmejid and
Abdulaziz. A bird cage hanging from the dome displays an enameled clock from
its underside. The largest clock in the room, which is of English origin,
has a height of 3.5 m and a width of 1.0 m, and contains an organ.
The Sacred Relics Chamber
The Sacred Relics Chamber is located in the domed hall which was previously
used as the throne room, before the construction of the new throne room next
to the Babus-sade. It is situated directly opposite the treasury on the
other side of the courtyard. The walls of the hall are covered with 16 th
century Iznik tiles.
The building houses the sacred relics of Islam, brought to Turkey after the
conquest of Egypt in the 1517 by Yavuz Sultan Selim I. Among the most
important items in this sacred collection are one of the first manuscripts
of the Qur'an written on deer skin, authenticated by the Othman the 3rd
Caliph of Islam., the keys of the Ka'aba in Mecca, and some personal items
and weapons used by the Prophet and his Caliphs. Among the weapons are the
swords and the bow of the Prophet Muhammad and his Caliphs. Among the
personal items used by the Prophet is a mantle or cloak used by the Prophet.
Other items include the seal of the prophet, a letter written by the
Prophet, and some relics from his body such as hairs from his beard, some of
his extracted teeth, his footprint and soil from his graveyard. The sterling
silver chest that held the sacred relics for centuries is also kept in this
chamber.
The Fourth Courtyard
Access from the 3rd to the 4th courtyard is by a passage. The 4th court yard
is the rear most section of the Topkapi palace, within which are located
several pavilions surrounded by gardens. One pavilion in this courtyard is
the "Revan Pavilion" which is the only wooden pavilion in the palace
complex, and built by architect Koca Kasim in 1635. The "Baghdad Pavilion"
also built by Koca Kasim in 1639 is an octagonal-shaped pavilion much bigger
than the "Revan Pavilion." Between the "Revan pavilion" and the "Baghdad
Pavilion" is the circumcision room and the place where the Sultans normally
broke their daily fasting at sunset during the month of fasting (Ramazan).
The Mecidiye Pavilion at the right extreme corner of the courtyard was
the last addition to the palace.
Related :-
Swords Daggers and Sheilds of the Iranian Crown Jewels
Please submit
your contributions ,comments and questions (See below)
-When you submit a question/comment we will build a
page exclusively for you. You can add more contributions, or let visitors
add comments and ratings
-The idea is Ask one or Answer one!
This way, you save yourself and others the trouble of asking the same
questions I'd appreciate a
little help here! Absolutely!!!
References
1.The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition - 2008
2.Ottoman
Web Site - www. osmanli700.gen
3.Mahmud I - from
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
4.The Turkish Journal of Collectable Art
- May 1985, Issue 2.
5.Topkapi (film) - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
6.Overview
of Topkapi (1964) - website of Turner Classic Movies.
7.Topkapi Palace
Museum - www.ee.bilkent.edu
8.Topkapi Palace - website
of the Government of Istanbul
